Self-piercing earring



y 26, 1 P. c. HANDERSON 2,713,863

SELF-PIERCING EARRING Filed Nov. 18, 1953 22 20 25 Fig, 5

P1117110 6. Henderson INVENTOR.

United dtates Patent SELF-PIERCING EARRING Philip C. Handerson, Delray Beach, Fla.

Application November 18, 1953, Serial No. 392,973

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-330) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in earrings and more particularly to earpiercing means carried by the earring.

An important object of the invention is to provide a piercing earring equipped to carry a tube or sleeve into the lobe of the ear during the piercing action and which remains therein to interchangeably receive various styles of earrings Without necessitating repeated piercing of the lobe.

Another object is to provide a supporting sleeve for earrings and which is embedded in the lobe of the ear to relieve the person of the discomfort subjected to the tender lobe by pulling thereon caused by the earring, as well as to prevent enlargement of the opening caused by frequent piercing of the lobe.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and'in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one type of earring embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the ear-piercing portion of the earring;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view (if the hinged portion of the earring;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing the earring supporting tube embedded in the ear and with the earring removed;

Figure 5 is an enlarged group perspective view of a modified type of earring with detachable piercing prong; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof with a retaining nut substituted for the prong.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a tubular member which may be constructed of metal or other suitable material, and having a tapered end portion 6 at one end. The tube is of a length corresponding substantially to the thickness of the lobe 7 of a persons ear 8 and in which the tube is embedded to support an earring therein.

The tube is inserted in the ear by supporting the same on a piercing prong of a type shown at 9 in Figure 2 and which is integrally formed with the free end portion of one of the semi-circular sections 10 of a split annular earring 11. The prong 9 is reduced in diameter with respect to the body of the earring to form a shoulder 12 against which the tube abuts while the tapered leading end 6 of the tube is positioned behind the pointed tip 13 of the prong and which pierces and pilots the tube through the lobe of the ear. The prong may then be withdrawn when the earring is not being worn, leaving the tube embedded in the ear and other types of ear- 2,713,863 Patented July 26, 1955 rings may be interchangeably placed in and supported by the tube.

The tube may also be embedded in the ear by means of an ear ornament of a type illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and which comprises a threaded stem 14 at the rear of a mounting 15 for a precious or ornamental stone 16. The tube 17 is mounted on the stem and a hollow piercing tip or prong 18 is internally threaded and placed on the stem outwardly of the tube to pilot the tube into the ear. After the tube has been placed in the ear the tip 18 is removed and a nut 19 threaded in place thereof on the stem to lock the ear ornament in the tube.

In Figure 3 a hinge construction 20 of a conventional type is shown for the sections of the split annular earring and with which is associated a locking device comprising a resilient latch bar 21 having one end anchored in a chamber 22 in one section of the earring and having teeth 23 at the free end of the bar engaged by a locking dog 24 in a chamber 25 in the meeting end of the other section of the earring. The tube 5 may be removed whenever desired and re-inserted in the lobe of the ear or the use of the tube may be dispensed With and the earring worn in the opening pierced in the lobe.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, an ear ornament, an ear-piercing prong carried by the ornament, and a tube detachably supported on the ornament and adapted to enter the ear together with the prong and said tube being retained in an embedded position in the ear upon withdrawal of the prong as well as upon removal of the ormanent from the ear.

2. In combination, an ear ornament, an ear-piercing prong carried by the ornament, and a tube detachably supported on the ornament and adapted to enter the ear together with the prong and said tube being supported on the ornament on the ear, said tube being retained in an embedded position in the ear upon withdrawal of the prong as well as upon removal of the ornament from the ear.

3. In combination, an ear ornament having an earpiercing prong integrally formed therewith, a shoulder at the rear portion of the prong, and a tube positioned on the prong rearwardly of the tip of the latter and abutting the shoulder and piloted into an opening formed in a persons ear by the prong, and said tube remaining in an embedded position in the ear upon withdrawal of the prong to interchangeably support ear ornaments inserted therein.

4. In combination, an ear ornament including a stem portion, a tube mounted on the stem, and interchangeable means removably secured to the outer end of the stem to hold the stem in the tube, said means including an ear piercing tip piloting the tube into an opening formed in a person's ear and said tube remaining in an embedded position in the ear upon removal of the tip and withdrawal of the stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 113,031 Edge Mar. 28, 1871 2,568,207 Spicher Sept. 18, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,732 Great Britain A. D. 1901 

